Deloitte Dads encouraged to take parental leave

8 July 2019

Deloitte is encouraging its male employees to take up to 18 weeks paid leave at the birth of their children.

The global accounting firm’s Perth office is this week hosting a travelling photographic exhibition, entitled Deloitte Dads, to send a message to new dads that they should take parental leave to help share the responsibility of raising their children and bring about gender equality in the workplace.

Perth office managing partner Michael McNulty said the exhibition aimed to start a conversation, challenge some long-held gender stereotypes that still existed in Australian society and the workplace, and drive greater equality for everyone.

The paid leave can be taken flexibly at any time over three years from the birth of their baby.

“This flexible work arrangement has been an amazing bonding experience, but it also was undertaken to support my wife’s career,” Deloitte director Pat Gardiner said.

Pat Gardiner had taken parental leave for both of his girls, Bobby (now 7) and Rory (now 4), and still took a day each week to stay home to manage the household.

“She has as much right to a career as I do, and Deloitte’s policy has been instrumental to finding this balance.”